Device for converting solar energy

Abstract

The invention relates to a device ( 10 ) for converting solar energy, comprising a solar radiation capturing unit ( 11 ) comprising at least one lens having a entry surface ( 11 a ) for the incident solar radiation and an exit surface ( 11 b ) for emitting the solar radiation in refracted form to a solar radiation concentrating unit ( 12 ) comprising a reflector surface ( 12 a ) for reflecting the solar radiation incident on the reflector surface ( 12 a ) from the exit surface of the lens ( 11 b ) to at least one target area ( 13 ) of the solar radiation concentrating unit ( 12 ). The device ( 10 ) comprises positioning means ( 14 ) for orienting the solar radiation capturing unit ( 11 ) and the solar radiation concentrating unit ( 12 ) with respect to each other through rotation about at least one axis ( 11′ ) perpendicular to a plane formed by the lens.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for converting solar energy, comprising
 a solar radiation capturing unit comprising at least one lens having an entry surface for the incident solar radiation and an exit surface for emitting the solar radiation in refracted form to 
 a solar radiation concentrating unit comprising a reflector surface for reflecting the solar radiation incident on the reflector surface from the exit surface of the lens to at least one target area of the solar radiation concentrating unit, 
 positioning means for orienting the lens and the reflector surface with respect to each other depending on a current position of the sun in the sky through rotation about at least one axis; 
 wherein the target area is located at one side of said axis, and the reflector surface extends both to said side and the opposite side of said axis. 
 
     
     
       2. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar radiation capturing unit and the solar radiation concentrating unit are rotatable to carry out rotary movements independent of each other. 
     
     
       3. A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the axes of rotation of the solar radiation capturing unit and the solar radiation concentrating unit coincide. 
     
     
       4. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar radiation capturing unit and the solar radiation concentrating unit can be oriented in separate planes with respect to each other by positioning means. 
     
     
       5. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning means are arranged for orienting the solar radiation capturing unit and the solar radiation concentrating unit with respect to each other on the basis of the current position of the sun in the sky, the optical characteristics of the device as well as the orientation of the device. 
     
     
       6. A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the positioning means comprise an arithmetic unit, which is arranged for determining the current position of the sun in the sky on the basis of the geographic position and orientation on earth as well as the day and the time of day. 
     
     
       7. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a frame in which the solar radiation capturing unit and the solar radiation concentrating unit are rotatably mounted. 
     
     
       8. A device according to  claim 7 , wherein a guide functioning as a chute is mounted in the frame, over which guide the solar radiation capturing unit and the solar radiation concentrating unit can be moved by the positioning means. 
     
     
       9. A device according to  claim 7 , wherein several rollers supporting the solar radiation capturing unit and the solar radiation concentrating unit may be mounted in the frame. 
     
     
       10. A device according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said rollers can be driven by the positioning means. 
     
     
       11. A device according to  claim 10 , wherein said rollers can be driven by motors that can be controlled by the positioning means. 
     
     
       12. A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the solar radiation capturing unit and the solar radiation concentrating unit are movable in the frame by means of a belt transmission that can be controlled by the positioning means. 
     
     
       13. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the entry surface of the lens is a flat surface. 
     
     
       14. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the exit surface of the lens is configured as a stepped lens. 
     
     
       15. A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the exit surface of the lens is configured as a stepped, straight prism lens. 
     
     
       16. A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the prism lens angle ranges between 15° and 50°. 
     
     
       17. A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the solar radiation capturing unit is arranged for emitting solar radiation to the solar radiation concentrating unit at a fixed exit angle ranging between 15° and 55°. 
     
     
       18. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device can be positioned at an angle with respect to the horizontal. 
     
     
       19. A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said angle is adjustable in dependence on the degree of latitude of the place where the device is located. 
     
     
       20. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflector surface comprises at least one concave curvature. 
     
     
       21. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first concave curvature of the reflector surface blends into a second concave curvature different from said first curvature at a point near its associated target area, which second concave curvature likewise forms an associated target area. 
     
     
       22. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein one solar radiation concentrator cell is present in the target area. 
     
     
       23. A device according to  claim 22 , wherein the solar radiation concentrator cell is disposed at the edge of the reflector. 
     
     
       24. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to a plane formed by the lens. 
     
     
       25. A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the prism lens angle is 36°. 
     
     
       26. A device according to  claim 14 , wherein the solar radiation capturing unit is arranged for emitting solar radiation to the solar radiation concentrating unit at a fixed exit angle of 36°. 
     
     
       27. A method for converting solar energy, the method comprising:
 capturing solar radiation by a solar radiation capturing unit comprising at least one lens having an entry surface for the incident solar radiation and an exit surface for emitting the solar radiation in refracted form; 
 reflecting, by a reflector surface of a solar radiation concentrating unit, the solar radiation emitted from the exit surface, the reflector surface reflecting the solar radiation to at least one target area of the solar radiation concentrating unit; 
 automatically rotating the lens depending on the position of the sun to cause the lens to emit the solar radiation at a fixed angle to the exit surface; 
 wherein the target area is located at one side of said axis, and the reflector surface extends both to said side and the opposite side of said axis. 
 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27  further comprising rotating the reflector surface depending on the position of the sun independently from the lens' rotary motion, to cause the solar radiation emitted from the exit surface to travel to the at least one target area. 
     
     
       29. The device of  claim 1  wherein said orienting the lens and the reflector surface comprises rotating both the lens and the reflector surface by different angles for at least one change in the sun's position. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 27  wherein said orienting the lens and the reflector surface comprises rotating both the lens and the reflector surface by different angles for at least one change in the sun's position.